Abdeslam Ouaddou Provides Update Concerning His Future at Orlando Pirates

• Abdeslam Ouaddou has clarified talks about doubts over his future at Orlando Pirates after winning the Betway Premiership
• The French-Moroccan tactician ended Mamelodi Sundowns dominance and delivered the club's first league title in 14 years
• The former Marumo Gallants head coach won three official titles in his debut season with the Premier Soccer League giants

Abdeslam Ouaddou has come out to give an update concerning doubts over his future at Orlando Pirates, as his comments during their last match in the Betway Premiership are being misinterpreted by the fans and the media.

The Moroccan tactician enjoyed a remarkable campaign with Pirates, guiding the side to a domestic treble after lifting the MTN8 very early in the season, before guiding the club past Marumo Gallants to win the Carling Knockout and the Betway Premiership crown, the club’s first league title in 14 years.

Following the Buccaneers' decisive clash against Magesi, Ouaddou sparked concern during an interview with SABC Sport when he admitted he was “tired” and needed fresh energy moving forward.

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Ouaddou clarifies recent statement about Pirates' future

Speaking again during the club’s trophy parade on Thursday, May 28, 2026, which included visits to several sponsors, Ouaddou addressed the comments he made about his future at the Soweto giants.

“People must understand that I’m an honest person,” he told iDiski Times while addressing the comments he made after the final match of the season.

“I’m not someone who is driven by contracts. Unlike some coaches, I’m fortunate enough to have choices because I spent 17 years playing professional football. I can decide whether I want to continue or take a step back.

“When you coach a massive club like Orlando Pirates and carry the responsibility of bringing joy to millions of supporters, you need to be mentally and physically strong. If you feel exhausted, it would not be fair to continue pretending everything is fine because the supporters deserve honesty."

Ouaddou explains what he meant

Ouaddou went on to explain what he meant by the statement he made after the Sea Robbers were crowned the winners of the Betway Premiership this season.

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“What I was trying to explain is that after 11 months at a club of this size, the workload can feel like two full years elsewhere. Psychologically, I felt drained, and I simply wanted people to understand that reality," he added.

“It has nothing to do with pressure because pressure is something I’ve dealt with throughout my career. I can handle that. The important thing is that people remember I’m human, not a machine.

“Many coaches in modern football experience this level of fatigue at some stage. I was only being truthful about how I felt. But despite everything, I still love football deeply. I coach with passion, and honesty is very important to me.”

Ouaddou calls out Pirates 'boo boys'

Briefly News also reported that Abdeslam Ouaddou addressed Orlando Pirates fans who were booing the team against TS Galaxy in the league.

The former Marumo Gallants manager stressed that his players are fully committed every time they step onto the pitch.

Source: Briefly News